Stretching and drying frame



D 'c. 31', 1929. A. o. SCHRAMM 1,741,541

I STRETCHING AND DRYING FRAME Filed Nov. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec 31, 1929. A. o. SCHRAMM 1,741,541

STRETCHING AND DRYING FRAME Filed Nov. 30, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1929. A. 0. SCHRAMM 1,741,541

STRETCHING AND DRYING FRAME Filed Nov. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. o. SCHRAMM STRETCHING AND DRYING FRAME Dec. 31, 1929.

Filed Nov. 50, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ma wwe Patented Dec. 31, 1929 RED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT O. SCHRAMM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMIPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO STRETCHING AND DRYING FRAME Application filed November 30, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in stretching and drying frames, and more particularly to a frame of rigid construction specially adapted for stretching and drying heavy fabrics, such as carpets.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus upon which heavy fabric may be mounted, together with means for moving the parallel members of the frame outwardly to stretch the fabric in such a way as to pre serve its rectangular shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stretching and drying frame of the character mentioned in which the support for the fabric may be readily adjusted either in a vertical or horizontal position, so that the fabric may be readily applied to the frame while in a horizontal position and removed therefrom in such position, the vertical position being provided so that after the fabric is applied, less floor space will be occupied while the fabric is being dried.

Additional advantages of the construction will be readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view showing the apparatus in vertical adjustment and in which the apparatus is viewed from the reverse side from which the fabric is applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the frame showing details of the construction;

Fig. 3 is a similar View of one of the lower corner constructions;

Fig. 4 is an endview showing in dotted lines the two adjustments of the apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the means for Serial No. 72,233.

WVithin each angle formed by the side and bottom members is a bracket or brackets 5, in which a roller 6 is mounted. Additional rollers at spaced intervals throughout the length of the bottom member 1 may be provided, if desired. These rollers facilitate the movement of the apparatus so that it may be moved after the fabric has been applied. For instance, after the fabric has been applied the frame may be moved bodily into a drier (not shown), or the frame may be moved from place to place in the room in which it may be mounted.

For convenience in movement, the frame is preferably associated with a track 7 which may comprise spaced angle plates, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, between which straps 8 mounted at suitable intervals on the top member 2 operate. This arrangement provides means for holding the outer frame in vertical position and also for guiding the frame when it is moved from place to place.

The apparatus further includes an adjustable inner frame comprising a bottom member 9, a top member 10 and end members 11, together with a suitable number of longitudinal reinforcing members 12 and transverse reinforcing members 13, all of said members being suitably joined at their intersections and as shown in the drawings, by cross fittings 14. The end members 11 as well as the transverse reinforcing members 13 are pivotally connected to the bottom member 1 of the outer frame by T-fittin'gs 15.

, Intermediate theouter frame and the adjustableframe are fourshaftslfi, which are operatively connected at their respective ad jacent ends by beveled pinions 17. The adjustable frameis movablefrom a horizontal to a vertical position and vice versa'inthe stationary frame, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the adjustable frame pivoting upon the pivot connections 15. In order to facilitate the adjustment of the adjustable frame to these two positions, the upper part of the adjustable frame is provided with a counter-weight connection comprising double sheaves 18 each having two drums, the one of a relatively larger diameter than the other, the larger one of the drums carrying a-flexible cable 19, one end of each of which is connected with the upper part of the adjustable frame. Each smaller drum is connected with one end of a fle.rible cable 20 connected at their other end with counter weights 21, said counter weights preferably being mounted upon the members 3 of the stationary frame, that when the adjustable frame is swung downwardly, the weight thereof will be opposed by the counter weights 21 operat ing on the end members 3.

T he stretching members for the fabric include bars arranged parallel with the respective members of the adjustable frame. These bars are of duplicate construction, the preferable formation of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5 of. the drawing. They each include a Ushaped member 22 having laterally projeoting flanges 23 and are connected at suitable in ervals with rods 24 running transversely thereof, said rods being provided with eyes 25. The rods 24 are arranged in pairs and are so mounted that the eyes in each pair extend on opposite sides of the bars.

On the upper face of each bar and longitudinally adjustable thereon is a plurality of fabric engaging members which include a base 26 having under-turned side edges 27 that engage and slide upon the flanges 23. The base 26 supports a plurality of wire teeth 28 forming a mass that engages into the marginal edges of the fabric pressed against the ends thereof and serving to hold the marginal edges of the fabric in connection with the adjustable bars 22.

The bars 22 are mounted for sliding movement in the adjustable frame by attaching the bars to members of the frame by brackets 29. Each bar 22 is normally actuated inwardly of the adjustable frame by contraction springs 30 connected at suitable positions with the permanent members of the adjustable frame and one end of the rods 2%, the ends of the springs being connected into the eyes 25 of the rods. The outward movement of the bars 22 is effected by suitably spaced flexible connections 31 with the other rods 24 of each pair, said flexible connection being wound upon the respective shafts 16. In.- asmuch as all of the shafts 16 are operatively connected by the beveled pinions 17, the rotation of any one of them will rotate the others in a direction to wind the flexible connections 31 thereon, and thereby simultaneously move all of the bars 22 outwardly an equal distance, all in opposition to the springs 30.

The means employed for rotating the shafts 16 includes the extension 32 of an upper shaft 16 providing a connection for a handle whereby said upper shaft 16 may be manually rotated. In order to latch the shafts 16 in their adjusted positions, a pawl and ratchet device 33 is provided, it being apparent that when this pawl is released, all of the bars will be moved inwardly by the springs 30, and thereby release the tension on the fabric supported thereon. The particular manner of mounting and operating the bars is such that each will be held in proper alinement and when the bars are moved outwardly, to stretch the fabric, the outward movement will be uniform, preserving the proper rectangular formation of the fabric and preventing irregular stretching thereof. As each stretching bar remains parallel with the fixed member of the adjustable frame, equal tension will be preserved on the fabric during the stretching operation.

Inasmuch as the adjustable frame may be readily moved to horizontal position parallel with the floor of the room in which the apparatus is mounted, heavy fabrics, such as carpets, may be readily placed upon the frame and the fabric engaging devices connected along the marginal edges of the fabric and after the fabric has been stretched by moving the supportingbars outwardly, the adjustable frame may be then swung to vcrtical position; and when so adjusted, the entire apparatus may be moved bodily either into a drier or disposed in a drying room through the drying period of the fabric. When it is desired to release the fabric from the frame, the pawl 33 is released and all of the shafts 16 will be free to rotate loosening the connections 31 as the supporting bars are moved inwardly of the adjustable frame by the springs 30.

I am aware that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising an outer frame, means engaging the upper side of said outer frame and supporting said frame approximately vertically and permitting longitudinal movements of said frame, an inner frame having its lower side pivoted to said outer frame, fabric engaging devices supported by said inner frame, and mechanism operative 'to raise and support said inner frame in said outer frame or to permit said inner frame to be swung downwardly as desired.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising an outer frame, an inner frame having its lower edge pivoted to said outer frame, a sheave rotative on said outer frame, a cable connecting said sheave and said inner frame for holding said inner frame upright, means in connection with said sheave and said outer frame for rotating said sheave in a direction to wind said cable on said sheave, and fabric engaging devices supported by said inner frame.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising an outer frame, an inner frame within the outer frame having its lower side pivoted to the lower side of the outer frame, fabric engaging devices supported by the inner frame, a sheave rotatively supported by the upper side of the outer frame, a cable arranged to wind upon said sheave and connected with. the inner frame, an additional sheave rotative upon the upper side of the outer frame, a flexible connection arranged to wind upon said additional sheave, and a counterweight attached to said connection and arranged to slide upon the outer frame.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising side and end frame members, transverse and longitudinal connecting members between said side and end frame members respectively, a pair of side stretching bars and a pair of end stretching bars respectively having sliding connection with certain, and extending across others, of said members, springs connecting each of said bars with an adjacent one of said members acting to move said members inwardly, a rotative shaft supported parallel with each of said members, flexible elements connecting each of said shafts with the adjacent stretching bar, means for operating a number of said shafts simultaneously to wind said connections on said shafts and move said stretching bars outwardly in opposition to said springs, and fabric engaging devices in connection with the side of each of said stretching bars opposite from said connecting members.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising side and end frame members, transverse and longitudinal connecting mem bers between said side and end frame members respectively. a pair of side stretching bars and a pair of end stretching bars respectively having sliding connection with certain, and extending across others, of said members, springs connecting each of said bars with an adjacent end of said members acting to move said members inwardly, a rotative shaft supported parallel with each of said members, flexible elements connecting each of said shafts with the adjacent stretching bar, means for operating a number of said shafts simultaneously to wind said connections on said shafts and move said stretching bars outwardly in opposition to said springs, means for preventing reverse rotation of said shafts, and fabric engaging devices in connecti on with the side of each of said stretching bars opposite from said connecting members.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising an outer frame, inner frame side and end members, transverse and longitudinal members having their ends connected with said inner frame side and end members respectively, devices pivotally connecting the lower ends of said transverse members with the lower side of said outer frame, a pair of longitudinal stretching bars, a pair of transverse stretching bars, devices supporting said stretching bars for sliding movements in connection with certain of said members of said inner frame, devices for actuating said stretching bars inwardly, and other devices for moving said stretching bars outwardly.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising an outer frame, inner frame side and end members, transverse and longitudinal members having their ends connected with said inner frame side and end members re- ALBERT O. SOHRAMM. 

